The current state of knowledge on the influence of social media on the search for weight loss treatments by users of digital platforms: a scoping review.

Abstract

Abstract

Social media plays an increasingly significant role in disseminating information about weight loss treatments, influencing body perception and user behavior related to weight. This study aims to map and synthesize the current state of knowledge regarding the relationship between social media and the search of weight loss strategies by digital platform users. This is a scoping review conducted following the methodological framework of the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI). Searches were carried out in conventional databases and gray literature. Data selection and extraction were performed by two independent reviewers, with conflicts resolved by a third reviewer, and results were presented in tabular and descriptive formats. Sixteen studies were included, most of which employed cross-sectional designs (68%), followed by systematic reviews and descriptive studies. The predominant study population consisted of adolescents and young adults, mainly female. The main platforms associated with the search for weight loss information were Instagram (56%), Facebook (38.8%), and Twitter (31.25%). The studies indicated that content related to weight loss on these platforms encourages restrictive diets, the use of medications such as semaglutide (Ozempic®), and surgical procedures, such as intragastric injection of botulinum toxin. Additionally, 31.25% of the studies associated the use of these platforms with an increased risk of developing eating disorders, driven by social comparison and the idealization of unattainable aesthetic standards. Therefore, the findings reveal that social media influences the search of weight loss treatments, reinforces unattainable beauty standards, and promotes risky behaviors, highlighting the need for longitudinal studies and interventions to foster a healthier digital environment.